Divine. Memorial. Bagel. Market. A summary of Day 3!

Divine: Today started out with a visit to a local widow with 8 children who has been trained to earn a living by making earrings to sell at the market. She has 2 sets of twins and the youngest are beyond cute. The smallest twin girl named Divine was so stinkin cute and tiny. When she got tired she would such the same 2 fingers as JP used to and scratched her head....just like JP! Here's a picture of me with Divine.




Memorial: After visiting Mama Clementine, we went to the Genocide Memorial. I have been there before, but it was before JP became my son. I didn't expect to have the reaction I did. I thought that I would not have an overly emotional response because it was nothing I haven't already seen...but when I entered the part of the memorial that honors the lost children and shares their story. I lost it. One little one is remembered for his last words he spoke to his mother, "Mama, where should I run?" I read those words and heard JP's voice. The last time I walked through this memorial I shed tears at the atrocities that happened to "A" people. This time, I wept because what I was reading happened to MY people.

Bagel: After the memorial we went to the African Bagel Company! This is a business that our friends started to again train the widows in a trade. The widows are taught how to make bagels and cookies to sell at several venues. We had ham and cheese bagel sandwiches for lunch! YUM! The chocolate chip cookies were amazing too. It was a neat opportunity to see another example of how to break the cycle of poverty. Giving our money is a nice gesture but it doesn't solve the problem unless the money is used to train people to be self sufficient. One of the reasons I love their ministry, TENTMAKERS OF RWANDA.

Market: We ended our day at the open market where you have to negotiate the best price you can in a VERY crowded environment where you dont speak the language. It's an adventure! We left with some nice bowls, jewelry and placed an order for Kayla to have a custom shirt made with some fabric we found there!

**Update on Kayla** She woke up this morning feeling MUCH better and by late morning she was back to her old self! She is completely fine now! She took this picture at Mama Clementine's this morning.

Chickies + Widows = end of Poverty

Our Sunday in Rwanda was great. We went to the service at the Foursquare church. It was great. We had to leave before the service ended because we were late to another commitment at another church called Miracle Center. Our purpose at this church was to bless 2 of the widows in their congregation. My dad and sister in law had given me money to come bless some needy people here and so some of that money was used to purchase baby chicks with LOTS of feed. Another woman on the team also gave funds toward this project and so she and I got the chance to present these widows with the chicks and feed that would end the cycle of poverty for them and their children. What an incredible moment. We shared with them how the bible says that God loves a cheerful giver and that we were indeed cheerful givers and that our prayer was for them to receive so that they in turn can also freely give as they become self sufficient. We prayed that the ripple effect of this one blessing would one that would spread through their whole community. That was definitely the highlight of my day. Here's a picture of me with one of the widows that received the chicks.



Our missionary friends do such amazing work here. They don't just give help in the form of handouts because that just creates dependency. They train people and give them a hand up out of poverty so that they can be self sustaining members of their communities. It's really awesome work!
Another really fun moment was later that day we had some traditional dancers come sing and dance and of course we had to try to learn. It was a blast!






Since I am posting this after the fact... (I didn't want to get everyone all worried)I will also say that today had its low points too. Kayla was pretty sick with stomach pains and after all day and no improvement by the time we had our team meeting in the evening we spent a lot of time in prayer for her to feel better. She got a little worse before she got better...but by 10:00 that night we were in the living room together with the laptop checking out FB. Talk about answered prayer! Cool stuff!

The Outreach

The outreach was done literally by the side of the road in a rural area on the outskirts of Kigali. There were just under 100 people there I'd say and most were children. It was a really cool experience....to have a bunch of people gather to hear us Muzungoos(white people) talk to them about the love of God. A few of us shared with the small crowd the thoughts and prayers God put on our hearts. After we showed a movie based on the life of King David and after the movie was over several people wanted to enter into relationship with Jesus, so we prayed with them. While the guys packed up all the projection equipment, we ladies went inside the church and prayed for the pastors. The girls on the team had a great time just loving on the kids and taking pictures with them. It was sweet!

We're Here

We will post about the outreach later..but for now here is what our journey to Rwanda was like...

Kayla writes:
The Journey to Rwanda

Hello Everyone!! I (Kayla) am currently sitting on the plane waiting to get to Ethiopia, then RWANDA!!! It has been a very busy day! We left GCC at 3 am and arrived at Boston to check in at 4 am. We then got breakfast and went on our first flight from Boston to Washington D.C. I slept the whole plane ride so I don’t really have anything to say about that flight. It was very nice to sit down and sleep though. After we arrived in Washington D.C. we walked around the airport and got a very early lunch and ate at the gate while we waited to board. After everyone boarded the plane and the doors closed, we all spread out so we could have rows to ourselves to lay down and sleep. I have 3 seats to myself... Praise God!! Everyone is very excited and anxious to get off the plane! It has been a pretty good flight though. I’ve slept, read, eaten some wonderful plane food, and chatted with the other girls who are going as well. At about 3 am we stopped in Rome to refuel. We all thought that it was so ridiculous that we were IN ROME and yet could not get out and go do something. Oh well... While we waited to refuel, we all got up and were talking about what we were going to share at the churches we were speaking at. I’m going to be speaking about not worrying. I think this is a good topic for me to speak on because I can relate with this a lot because I worry ALL the time and that is just something that I have struggled to overcome. I came up with this topic probably 2 weeks ago when I was in the car and I was driving to church alone just listening to music and it just hit me! So of course when I got to church I found whatever I could to write on and scribbled all my thoughts down really quick so I wouldn’t forget anything. I’m a little nervous to speak in front of a lot of people but I think it will be easier than speaking in the USA because the people there are not as judgmental and are just glad you are there willing to speak to them. So that should make it a little easier I hope! After we took off in Rome we all slept again. I just barely woke up to a BEAUTIFUL sunrise! I am so anxious to just be in Rwanda!! I was writing in my journal earlier today and documenting my trip and I was saying how I’ve done everything I need to do to get here... I’ve fundraised, I’ve talked about it a million times, I’ve answered countless questions, I’ve packed my bags, I’ve gone to the airport and sat on planes for HOURS... and it STILL doesn’t feel real to me. I thought by now it would but I don’t think it will truly feel real until I’m there! Ok my breakfast just came so I am going to go but I will write more later today!

Deep Thoughts from a high altitude! (Tina writes...)

So on the long flight from DC to Rome I was sitting in the quiet and sort of counting my blessings so to speak. I have so much to be thankful for everyday and yet I don’t live each day in a state of thankfulness. WHY? Probably because I am TOO blessed and have become spoiled and expect certain things to be a part of my daily experience. I have cupboards full of food, closets full of clothes, rooms full of stuff, I have my health, my husband, my children, friends. I have “jobs” that help provide, a ministry that gives me purpose and is incredibly rewarding. I realize that God is so gracious to me each day.

I have been to Africa twice and both times I have experienced God’s presence so strongly. There is such a purity of worship there that is really hard to find at home. So as I head back to Africa again I am excited because I KNOW that God is going to do amazing things; I expect it. But something struck me on the plane....Why can I so confidently expect to experience God in Africa, but I so often miss the experience at home where there is evidence of blessing all around me. I know all the “blessings” are often a distraction and I need to be more intentional about my experience with God. God’s desire is to give me that experience wherever I am but I need to be looking for it...carving out that time everyday to seek Him. When I come to Africa...I am expectant ...always on the lookout for His miracles and I am not surprised when they happen. I want to come home expecting to see God’s hand in my life in the little things....and not get distracted. I want to continue to EXPECT to experience Him in powerful ways right where I’m at...day in and day out.

So instead of just being expectant of amazing things happening to me and the team on this trip. I’m expectant of all the things He is going to do at home as well. So....would you join me? As you follow my blog of this journey to Africa...would you be on the lookout of how God is present in your own life and acknowledge that He is at work in all of us....all the time. If you don’t have a personal relationship with God and you wonder if He is even real....be honest...and just tell him that and ask him to show you...ask him to reveal himself to you in a way that you will KNOW it’s him....He WANTS to WOW you...but He can’t if you’re not paying attention. So pay attention! I’m expecting for God to do amazing things in Africa, at home, in me, and in YOU....and when you do have a “God moment” feel free to share them here. I’d love to hear about it!

Our Itinerary while in Rwanda

Saturday Feb. 20th
Muraho! Arrive at Kigali Airport at 1:30 p.m.
Orientation & Lunch at 2 p.m.
Leave for Outreach in Gasogi (Note: Will need (2) team members for message and altar call)
Message at 5:00 p.m
Movie at 6:00 p.m. followed by altar call
Dinner at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday Feb. 21st
Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
Leave for Foursquare Kimironko Church at 9:30 a.m. (Note: will need team member to deliver message)
Chickies for widows at Miracle Center at Noon
Sambusas, Salads and Snooze at 1:00 p.m
African Dinner and Dance at Smyth Home at 4:00 p.m.
Skype with GCC at 4:45 p.m.

Monday Feb. 22nd
Breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
Visit Mama Clementine & Children from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Beans, Bananas & Rice)
Genocide Memorial Visit from 11:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Lunch at the Women’s Training Center (Bagels Etc.) at 1:30 p.m.
Shopping at Kimironko Market at 3:30 p.m. (Purchase crackers, peanuts, bananas for hospital)
Dinner at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday Feb. 23rd
Breakfast at 8:00 a.m.
Assemble gift bags for Hospital Patients from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Leave for Hospital at 10:30 a.m.
Hospital Meet & Greet at 11:00 a.m.
Message from Team Member at 12:00 noon (need speaker)
Visit Hospital Wards until 1:45 p.m.
Buffet Luncheon Afrikan Bite at 2:00 p.m.
Shopping at Green Craft Buildings from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Leave for Pastor Peace’s Church Service at 5:45 p.m. (Need team member to deliver message)
Dinner at 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday Feb. 24th
Rise & Shine at 5:30 a.m. for early breakfast!
African Safari Day at the Akagera Game Park – Leave at 6:00 a.m.
Bagged Lunches, Snacks, Water Provided
Dinner upon return




Thursday Feb. 25th
Breakfast at 8 a.m.
Visit to Home of Innocent from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. (Crafts, Games, Dancing)
Visit for those with Global Benefit Sponsored Children at 11:00 a.m. OR
Lunch Hour Fellowship from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. (need team member to speak)
Lunch at 1:30 p.m.
Outreach to Widows
Dinner at 7:00 p.m.

Friday Feb. 26th
Breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
Ministry to Street Boys from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lunch
Girls Afternoon Out & Boys Time Off
Leave for Outreach at 3 p.m. (need team member to speak and for altar call)
Dinner at 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 27th
Sleep in Saturday
Brunch
Off the streets until noon
Shopping & Snacks
Return to Outreach - Crafts & Games with Children
Movie and Message (need team member for message and altar call).
Dinner at 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 28th
Breakfast at 8:30 a.m.
Restoration Church in Kimisagara
Lunch
Trip to Well

Monday, March 1st
Breakfast at 8:30 a.m
Last minute shopping for souvenirs (or open to suggestion!)
Lunch at 1:00 p.m.
Leave for airport at 2 p.m.

This time next week...

Starting yesterday morning I have found myself saying this phrase over and over to Kayla, "This time next week we will be on our way to Rwanda....this time next week we will have just arrived...this time next week we will be heading out to our first outreach."

As I type this, I can't help but to think that this time next week I will be just waking up to get ready for church... which is probably one of my favorite parts about Rwanda... the worship. It is so pure and so full of life that you can feel God's presence so strongly. There is nothing quite like it and I can't wait for Kayla to experience it first hand....she sure has heard about it enough... she keeps saying, "I can't wait to experience it myself, instead of just hearing about it." She is in for a real treat and I'm certain it is something she will always remember.

I've been busy trying to put together a scrapbook of JP to show the nuns at the orphanage how he has grown. I am almost done. Which reminds me...I am so excited to report that our fundraising was so successful that I have a surplus of cash to bring with me and I plan to spend it at the market buying rice, beans, etc for the orphanage to bless JP's old buddies. There are so many mouths to feed there that they can always use more donations of food. So thanks to all of you that gave financially to this mission...your sacrifice will bring blessing...you can count on that!

I started pulling out the clothes and essentials to pack for the trip and I am sure that the next few days will fly by. I expect my next post will be from the air...so until then...

The "A" Team

We had our last team meeting last night and it was a good time to just visit, go over last minute details and just share and pray together. We are a fun group and I can't wait to share this experience with all of them! Only 11 more days!